Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary
In Trenton-Princeton, NJ, biochemists and biophysicists earn $124,300 at the median, or about $59.76 an hour. The range runs from $68K at the entry level to $155K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.18), that's roughly $120,469 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,950/month, or 26.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $124K get you in Trenton-Princeton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Trenton-Princeton’s Regional Price Parity (103.18). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About biochemists and biophysicists
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What this looks like in Trenton-Princeton
Biochemists and biophysicists pay in Trenton-Princeton tracks closely to the national median, $124K locally vs. $127K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,950/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 103.18) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for biochemists and biophysicists in metros near Trenton-Princeton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $134K | $131K |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $110K | $97K |
| Pittsburgh | $125K | $132K |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $95K | $95K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Trenton-Princeton, NJ
Entry-level biochemists and biophysicists (10th percentile) start around $68K. Mid-career wages sit at $124K. Top earners bring in $155K or more, a $87K spread from bottom to top.
Biochemists and Biophysicists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Biochemists and Biophysicists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $157K | +24% | 370 |
| California | $140K | +10% | 3,240 |
| Tennessee | $135K | +6% | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $134K | +5% | 2,750 |
| Connecticut | $133K | +4% | 540 |
| Massachusetts | $132K | +3% | 14,890 |
| New Jersey | $123K | -4% | 2,570 |
| District of Columbia | $120K | -6% | 70 |
| New Hampshire | $110K | -14% | 200 |
| Michigan | $109K | -14% | 730 |
| South Carolina | $109K | -14% | 60 |
| Wisconsin | $106K | -16% | 170 |
| Virginia | $106K | -17% | 70 |
| Delaware | $102K | -20% | 490 |
| Iowa | $101K | -21% | 140 |
| New York | $101K | -21% | 980 |
| Maryland | $101K | -21% | 690 |
| Washington | $99K | -22% | 270 |
| Kansas | $98K | -23% | 140 |
| Texas | $98K | -23% | 520 |
| Ohio | $90K | -29% | 350 |
| Illinois | $87K | -32% | 150 |
| Georgia | $86K | -33% | 110 |
| Maine | $85K | -34% | 390 |
| Arkansas | $82K | -35% | N/A |
| North Carolina | $82K | -35% | 570 |
| Utah | $82K | -36% | 160 |
| Minnesota | $81K | -36% | 190 |
| Missouri | $80K | -38% | 290 |
| Rhode Island | $77K | -40% | N/A |
| Kentucky | $75K | -41% | 40 |
| Nevada | $69K | -46% | N/A |
| Oklahoma | $69K | -46% | 70 |
| Nebraska | $67K | -47% | 70 |
| Alabama | $49K | -62% | 90 |
Showing 1–10 of 35 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track biochemists and biophysicists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Trenton-Princeton numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a biochemists and biophysicist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Trenton-Princeton?
Yes — at the median salary of $124K, rent takes 26% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,950/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for biochemists and biophysicists in Trenton-Princeton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biochemists and biophysicists typically earn — is $68K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,106/month. At HUD’s $1,950/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is biochemists and biophysicist a high-paying job in Trenton-Princeton?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $124K locally vs. $127K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Trenton-Princeton compare to the national average for biochemists and biophysicists?
Trenton-Princeton pays $124K median vs. the U.S. average of $127K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.18), the purchasing-power equivalent is $120K — below the national median.
How much do biochemists and biophysicists make in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The median is $124,300 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $68,440, and experienced biochemists and biophysicists can clear $155,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $124K enough to live in Trenton-Princeton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,493/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,950/month, which eats 26% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a biochemists and biophysicists salary go in Trenton-Princeton?
Trenton-Princeton has a Regional Price Parity of 103.18 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median biochemists and biophysicists salary is worth about $120,469 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do biochemists and biophysicists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.